TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Raymond J. Lesniak and Sandra Bolden Cunningham which would allow inmates dealing with substance abuse issues to “earn their way out” of incarceration by completing a rigorous substance abuse treatment and recovery program was unanimously approved by the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee yesterday.
“Through this legislation, we can empower drug offenders and inmates battling addiction to break the cycle of addiction and crime, and reclaim their lives and freedom,” said Senator Lesniak, D-Union. “It makes far more sense to spend existing Corrections dollars to reduce recidivism and address one of the root causes behind crime, rather than just keeping people behind bars. This bill focuses State resources away from incarceration and towards real rehabilitation for offenders whose crimes are motivated primarily by drug and alcohol addiction.”